Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Oct 2012)

Hepatitis B revaccination for healthcare workers who are anti-HBs-negative after receiving a primary vaccination series

  • Marta Heloisa Lopes,
  • Ana Marli Christovam Sartori,
  • Tatiany Viviany Gonçalves Souza,
  • Melissa Mascheretti,
  • Tânia do Socorro Souza Chaves

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822012000500018
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 45, no. 5
pp. 639 – 642

Abstract

Read online

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the response to hepatitis B (HB) revaccination of healthcare workers (HCW) who are negative for antibodies to HB surface antigen (anti-HBs) after a complete vaccination series. METHODS: HCW whose anti-HBs test was performed > 90 days after a HB vaccination course were given a 4th dose. A post-vaccination test was done within 30 to 90 days. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy HCW were enrolled: 126 (74.1%) were anti-HBs-positive after the 4th dose. CONCLUSIONS: Rechecking anti-HBs after the 4th HB vaccine dose is a practical approach in case of post-vaccination tests performed >90 days after the full vaccination course.

Keywords